![]() That’s probably the reason why instead of having terrifying motifs associated with this holiday, Dia de Los Muertos is literary a celebration, a time of happiness and joy, where people dress up and wear colorful makeup. Sugar skulls as gifts can be given to both the living and the dead.Īlthough death is still feared, as in other cultures, Mexicans learn to accept it as a natural process in their lives. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these gifts.Ī common symbol of the holiday is the skull (from the Spanish calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for skeleton), and foods such as sugar or chocolate skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. It is believed that the spirits of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2. While the celebration is connected to the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day and some even regard it as a Mexican Halloween, the fact of the matter is that the way death is viewed in Mexican culture makes Dia de Los Muertos a one of a kind holiday, that actually celebrates death and welcomes all the departed spirits home. People everywhere are celebrating and mourning their loved ones in an unique way, that is different from other cultures. On this day, the streets of Mexico near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades. To honor them, families make altars for their loves ones and bring offerings to cemeteries, dance, play music and dress up, as well as wear the traditional Dia de los Muertos makeup, a complex sugar skull face painting design. Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that celebrates those who have departed.
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